Hey orchid1, You sound so strong & positive - good for you! Keep that attitude. I agree my sitch could have been worse too.
Yep, I understand & feel the same way about my xh. I too thought the bond of M would be stronger. And thought that my xh had changed from when we just dated years ago. Not so. The only way, he too knows how to deal w/M/R problems is to run & start anew. As I have thought before, I wonder how long one can really run from themselves? Must get pretty tiring.
I read the self help / R book for men that was recommended on this site. (Hold onto your Nuts). It's a very interesting book. One part says that a man needs to silence the little boy in him. It says how a little boy can in one way react to his fears by running away. (Well that's my xh). It also says moods belong to little boys, says to stop being afraid of your W & the kicker, a boy reacts a man responds. All that pretty much describes my xh.
Ah well, onward & to better days.
Me39, XH45 Kids 3 dogs, 2 cats Divorced 6/4/09 Tricky thing is not how you live, but how you live with yourself. (POTC)